As the recognized substance abuse local coordinating coalition (LCC) in Scott County, CEASe is charged with the administration of the community drug fund created by state statute. It is a system by which fines, assessed and collected through the court system from specific drug and alcohol offenses, are released back into the community as awarded grants to support agencies and providers. This allows these recipients to identify and expand services to those individuals being adversely affected by substances in the area of prevention/education, treatment/intervention and justice/law enforcement. CEASe would like to thank Grant Chair Jason Mount for his leadership over the past four years strengthening CEASe'e fiscal responsibility and strengthening grant recipient accountability. This year CEASe distributed almost $25,000 of Drug-Free Community funds in the form of community grants in the following three areas.

Criminal Justice

Services/Law Enforcement

Scottsburg Police Department ($4000) to cover 150 hours of overtime to fulfill substance abuse and demand reduction/awareness projects. Funding will allow for more drug investigations to be conducted, increased substance abuse patrols and narcotics enforcement, and extended monitoring in problem areas of the city, in addition to continued proactive patrols and overtime to try and to keep the alcohol related cases lower.

Bliss House ($3000) to provide funding for Scott County resident females in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction to live in this residential transitional community providing a therapeutic, structured environment for 6-9 months. Residents complete the 12 Step education curriculum, Recovery Dynamics and learn to utilize support in the community to assist them in maintaining their sobriety. Funding will cover 34% of the cost of 2 Scott County residents for the grant year.

Centerstone ($2136) for The Nurturing Program. Seeking Safety is a trauma-informed women-only intervention group. It will meet weekly for ten weeks. It is a present-focused counseling model directly addressing both trauma and substance abuse addiction. There will be two sessions per year, with 15 women in each session. Nurturing Fathers is an all-male trauma, mental health and fathers-in-recovery group. It will meet weekly for ten weeks. The group will focus on Fatherhood and parenting for fathers specifically in recovery.

LifeSpring Health Systems Jail Recovery Program ($615) at Scott County Correctional Center. This project will serve to enhance programming currently taking place in the Scott County Jail. Because of a grant from the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addictions, LifeSpring currently provides a therapist and a case manager in the Jail two days a week. This will expand to five days a week. These clinicians are working with inmates with substance abuse problems on their recovery and how to continue recovery once they transition out of jail.

National Youth Advocate Program YMCA Positive Coping Skills Program ($1200) to provide funding for clients and IOT Groups to be brought to YMCA by the therapist, case-manager, or Treatment Coordinator to participate in positive growth oriented activities that promote healthy lifestyles.

New Creation Addiction Ministries Treatment Transport ($1875) to cover cost of transporting Scott County residents in need of treatment to Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Centers or other Treatment Centers within Indiana.

Prevention/Education

Purdue Extension Scott County 4-H Girls Empowerment Program $348.44) for a 6 week curriculum that focuses on ways to help Middle School age girls to be more confident about how they handle different situations and circumstances. Topics discussed include a personality test, bullying, strengths, communicating effectively, healthy body image and drugs and consequences.

Scott County District 2 “Just Say No” Clubs ($1000) for 4th or 5th grade students to help them learn about and support each other in living drug free, to learn and practice ways to resist negative peer pressure, to perform community service, have fun. They will have four community after-school events: bowling event, summer picnic, and swim party.

Scottsburg High School After Prom Committee ($1000) for purchase of items (lanyards, keychains, sunglasses) with drug free prevention messages to go in gift bags to after prom attendees.

Scott County EMS Public Naloxone Education Program ($933.40) for Naloxone administration courses offered to lay people and educational courses will be taught on the proper administration of naloxone (opioid reversal drug).

Officers find oxymorphone, drug paraphernalia at Austin home through tip

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 16 February 2016 15:27

Confidential tips are helping local law enforcement agencies put a stop to drug activity.

Sheriff's deputies got a tip that possible drug activity was occurring at a home at 143 Rural Street on Austin's north side. Officers and Austin police went to the residence and talked to the homeowner. As the conversation was taking place, one of the officers stated he saw a syringe in the home. A man in the home, later identified as Barry L. Fox, 31, was allegedly seen attempting to hide something from police.

Deputies were given verbal permission to go inside and investigate.

Located was a syringe, drug paraphernalia normally associated with intravenous drug use and a controlled drug, oxymorphone which is commonly known as Opana. All was allegedly in the bedroom where the officer had seen Fox.

Fox was placed in custody and transported to the Scott County Security Center.

Charges filed in Scott Superior Court included a Level 6 felony possession of a narcotic drug and Level 6 maintaining a common nuisance.

A not guilty plea was entered for Fox during his initial hearing on February 12. An initial jury trial date of May 10 was scheduled, and bail was set at $15,000 by corporate surety bond or 10% cash. Fox's case was assigned to a public defender.

Sheriff Dan McClain said citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff's Department, either by calling 812-752-8400 or its 24-hour tip line, 812-752-7898. Tips can be provided anonymously.

Persons can also visit the department's Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ScottCountyINSheriff, or its website, www.scottcountysheriff.org, to leave tips.

Deputy quickly locates, arrests Underwood man for recent auto theft

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 16 February 2016 15:25

Todd Franklin Napier was quickly located and arrested by a deputy recently when the owner of the vehicle taken called and reported the theft to the Sheriff's Department.

Napier, 35, Underwood, was found behind the wheel of a black Volkswagen Passat by Deputy Joe Johnson on February 5, after Johnson and fellow officer James Shelton were dispatched to the Terry Road area.

When stopped at the intersection of Terry Rd. and State Road 256 East, Napier allegedly gave false identification information to the officers. He told the deputies that he had not stolen the car but rather was taking it so it could be repaired.

He was placed into custody and transported to the Scott County Security Center in Scottsburg. The vehicle was returned to its owner.

Since the Prosecutor's Office soon learned that Napier was on probation from an earlier criminal matter, Deputy Prosecutor Amanda Herald filed a petition for detainer and/or greater than standard bond against the defendant. He was then placed on a 15-day hold without bond. Bail remained $15,000 at corporate surety bond or $1,500 by cash.

Napier is now awaiting trial on charges of Level 6 felony auto theft and theft and false informing, a Class B misdemeanor. The trial is scheduled April 14.

His case has been assigned to a public defender.

Operation Dire Straits continues: Four more arrested before drugs exchanged

Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 16 February 2016 15:23

Add four more names to those arrested in connection with drug dealing, thanks to law enforcement agencies connected to the Scott County sweep, Operation Dire Straits, which began February 5.

On Tuesday afternoon, February 9, on Interstate 65 in Clark County, Indiana State Police Trooper Mark LaMaster stopped a southbound Chevy Malibu being driven by a woman, Tabatha M. Donahay, 29, at the 5.2 mile marker Her passenger was Kevin C. Lucas, 40. Both gave Scottsburg addresses to the officer.

Sensing the pair was acting suspiciously, Trp. LaMaster called for assistance, and Trp. Nathan Abbott and his drug detection dog, K-9 Teague, arrived and took a walk around the Malibu. When Teague gave a positive alert to the possible presence of drugs inside the vehicle, the officers asked Lucas if the pair had anything illegal in the car. Lucas reportedly replied, “Meth, heroin, marijuana.”

Those drugs and nearly $5,000 in cash were reported discovered as well as drug paraphernalia commonly used to sell drugs.

Officers investigating this incident learned that another Jeffersonville couple was enroute to meet Donahay and Lucas for a drug transaction in Clarksville.

ISP troopers and a Clark County deputy found the other couple traveling on Lewis and Clark Highway. They were identified as Nicole R. Turner, 26, and Denzel L. Ewing, 21. Approximately 4.5 ounces of methamphetamine and four grams of heroin were located in the car, and the pair was arrested.

Preliminary charges against Lucas in Clark County included dealing and possession of methamphetamine, dealing and possession of heroin and possession of marijuana. Charges against Donahay at that time included dealing and possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance.

Turner and Ewing were taken into custody on preliminary charges of dealing and possession of meth and maintaining a common nuisance.

In total, the seized drugs, all of which were reportedly scheduled to be sold in Scott County, had a street value of around $10,000.